Edinburgh-based firm honoured for its commitment to employees and young people

Hardies Property and Constructions Consultants has become one of only two organisations in the Scottish consultancy and surveying industry to have achieved both Investors in People Gold and Investors in Young People accreditations.

The firm, which is headquartered in Edinburgh and has 13 other offices throughout Scotland, including in Dunfermline and St Andrews, says it has benefited from ongoing, bespoke advice and support from Investors in People Scotland.

Hardies says that by gaining accreditation at Gold level, its solid foundation of good practice is demonstrated – as is its true commitment to the training and development of its people.

Investors in People is the most successful framework for business improvement through people, while Investors in Young People is the only people management standard which focuses on an employer’s recruitment and retention of young people.

Hardies says Investors in Young People accreditation demonstrates the firm as an employer of choice for young people and is testament to its effective youth employment practices.

Hardies managing partner Derek Ferrier said: “We are delighted to achieve both of these prestigious accreditations, which are the result of a great deal of hard work and investment in personnel, and in our working practices over the years.

“Our employees are the very heart of our organisation, and we promote a fully supported working environment.

“As a firm we have always done our bit to bring on the next generation in our industry by operating both a student and graduate trainee scheme.

“We also offer in house training for other staff members to ensure they can grow in their roles.”

“We would like to thank and commend Investors in People Scotland for their support and advice to us over the past few years, without which we could not have achieved this level of success.

“We can only encourage other firms in our sector to get on board with this.”

Peter Russian, chief executive of Investors in People Scotland, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for Hardies, and I would like to wholeheartedly congratulate them on their Investors in People and Investors in Young People accreditations.

“These awards recognise Hardies’ ongoing commitment to good practice in relation to their people, including young people at the start of their working careers.”

Hardies is a multi-disciplined property consultancy, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2013, serving both the private and public sector clients with a complete operation in property and construction development, including property valuation, building and quantity surveying and project management.

The firm also handles the leasing and sale of commercial and industrial buildings; H&S Principal Designer, clerk of works services and the provision of Energy Performance Certificates. Altogether, Hardies employ over 100 members of staff, professionally qualified in various disciplines, across its 14 offices in Scotland.